SE Asians influenced by Tamils for centuries: says new book

There has been a close religious and cultural link between Indian Tamils and Southeast Asia over centuries and the economic globalisation is giving it new relevance, former Singapore foreign minister and newly- appointed Nalanda University Chancellor George Yeo said today.
"Culturally, India's influence on Southeast Asia goes back to the earliest days. Much of that influence emanated from South India, the Tamil components being the most important," Yeo, 60, wrote in his 'George Yeo on Bonsai, Banyan and the Tao' which was launched here today.
Ethnic business networks become the specialty of Indian groups like the Parsees, Jains, Sindhis and Marwaris, as also Chettiars themselves a caste group within the Tamil community, he said.

Ancient Tamil epic Manimekalai steeped in Hindu-Buddhist- Jain tradition, alluded to the close religious and cultural links between the Tamils of South India and the people of Southeast Asia over centuries, he recapped in the book.
"The early Sangam literature described the trade links between South India and Kadaaram on the Malay Peninsula, now called Kedah. I-Tsing, a Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk who spent much time studying Buddhism in Sumatra before going to India, reported regular sailings of ships between Kedah and Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu".
"The date of the record, AD 1088, corresponded with the reign of the Chola Empoeror Kulottunga 1, whose long and prosperous rule lasted nearly half a century. Under his reign, the Chola Empire... Extended its influence into large parts of Southeast Asia and conducted trade with Indo-China and China," writes Yeo of the history.

"Thus, Singaporeans and other Southeast Asians are more influenced by Tamil Nadu than many of us realise. Happily, economic globailisation is re-establishing the old links with giving it new relevance," he penned in the 686-page book.

Talent of Tamils had "persistently disproportionate presentations" in the top universities and the Indian Administration and Foreign Services, Yeo said.
"Of the top three ethnic Indian Noble Prize winners in sciences, two were Tamil. Without Tamil scientists, India might still not be a nuclear power today," he said.
Noble laureate Professor Amartya Sen was guest of honour at the book launch.